Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court Sentences Man to 2.5 Years in Prison for Online Bomb-Making Activities
A Lahore Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) has sentenced a man, Hanan Abdullah, to 2.5 years in prison and fined him 50,000 rupees for attempting to search for bomb-making techniques online. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by Administrative Judge, Manzar Ali Gul, and followed an investigation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Hanan Abdullah, who was out on bail, was immediately arrested by authorities in the courtroom after the decision was announced. The FIA had filed a case against him in 2022, alleging that he was using Facebook to search for methods to make explosive devices.
According to the prosecution, Hanan was also accused of communicating with militants via Facebook and maintaining contact with members of a terrorist organization. Investigators presented evidence to support these allegations, leading the prosecution to request a stringent sentence for him.
The court transferred Hanan to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail following the verdict. The case highlights the growing concern over online platforms being used to promote extremist activities and the increasing role of social media in facilitating communication among individuals with terrorist affiliations.
